Detroit Lions brass went wild in their war room on Thursday night after stunning just about everyone when they selected former Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall — including the prospect himself.
The Lions were originally slated to pick sixth in the first round but opted to trade back with the Arizona Cardinals, who then drafted former Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr.
With Detroit on the clock soon after, the team zeroed in on the 21-year-old Gibbs, who, according to ESPN’s Draft Predictor, had more than a 99 percent chance to be available when the Lions picked later in the first round.
As cameras panned to the Lions’ draft room after the pick was submitted, head coach Dan Campbell can be seen embracing general manager Brad Holmes, who slapped a table in excitement.
“We’ve kind of put Jahmyr in his own separate box and just got really excited about the player,” Holmes said, according to ESPN, which reported the Alabama product was a “favorite” of the GM.
Gibbs, for his part, was not expecting a phone call early into the night.
“Yeah, I thought like in the 20s because that’s where it is usually for running backs,” he said.
Despite the “shocking” way his draft night unfolded, Gibbs is “grateful for the city of Detroit.”
“I feel great,” the Georgia native said. “I didn’t know I would get picked as high as I did because running backs don’t get picked as high in this new age and new era of the NFL draft, but it was pretty shocking to me.”
Get the complete list of first-round 2023 NFL Draft picks, with analysis and more from the New York Post.
Gibbs, who began his collegiate career at Georgia Tech in 2020 before transferring to Alabama in 2022, was not the only running back selected in Thursday’s first round.
Former Texas standout Bijan Robinson was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 overall.
As for the Lions, they’ll be on the clock early in Friday’s second round as they also acquired the No. 34 overall pick from the Cardinals in Thursday’s trade.
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